Roots of Indus Valley Civilization
-Earliest civilizations in India
-discovered in 1856
-Began as early as 7000 B.C.E.
----Herders who moved into the river valley?
----Began trading along the Indus down into the Arabian Sea, and as far as Mesopotamia.
Two Main Cities:
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa
-square city blocks
-uniform building materials
- A citadel (fortress) is 45 feet above the plain.
-huge communal bath.
-a large granary to store food
The Artifacts:
-pottery
-first dyed cotton cloth -metal working in bronze
-bead making.
--Bead materials included:
----jade from the Himalayas,
----lapis lazuli from Afghanistan,
----turquoise from Persia,
----amethyst from Mewar in India,
Small sculptures
-priestly or governmental officials?
- dancing girls?
-mother goddesses?
-Toys?
Buildings
Private houses
Each with a well, bathing space, and toilet and sewer system
No monumental architecture
No sign of social classes
Burial Sites
-Heads pointing to the north
-Some small grave goods
-No extravagant royal burials
Theories about the Fall of The Indus Valley
-A layer of river mud was found covering streets with new construction above.
-New construction was not as uniform as earlier buildings
-Climate change?
2500 B.C.E.
Roots of Indus Valley Civilization
-Earliest civilizations in India
-discovered in 1856
-Began as early as 7000 B.C.E.
----Herders who moved into the river valley?
----Began trading along the Indus down into the Arabian Sea, and as far as Mesopotamia.
Two Main Cities:
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa
-square city blocks
-uniform building materials
- A citadel (fortress) is 45 feet above the plain.
-huge communal bath.
-a large granary to store food
The Artifacts:
-pottery
-first dyed cotton cloth
-metal working in bronze
-bead making.
--Bead materials included:
----jade from the Himalayas,
----lapis lazuli from Afghanistan,
----turquoise from Persia,
----amethyst from Mewar in India,
Small sculptures
-priestly or governmental officials?
- dancing girls?
-mother goddesses?
-Toys?
Buildings
Private houses
Each with a well, bathing space, and toilet and sewer system
No monumental architecture
No sign of social classes
Burial Sites
-Heads pointing to the north
-Some small grave goods
-No extravagant royal burials
Theories about the Fall of The Indus Valley
-A layer of river mud was found covering streets with new construction above.
-New construction was not as uniform as earlier buildings
-Climate change?